Natural Poisons And Marks

Gaius makes three mugs of tea. The tea looks blood-reddish.

Freud swallows a mouthful of tea.

Huaah! It tastes awful. Like carrots.

Gaius puts his mug down. So does Rosamunda.

They go back to making blue dye.

Crush, crush, pound, grind. Add water.

This is GREEN! says Rosamunda.

Chartreuse. Add the red seeds now, says Gaius.

But the red seeds have vanished.

Water! splutters Freud.

Rosamunda brings him some water.

Aghh ! cries Freud. THIS is green! You're poisoning me!

Calm is restored. An agreement is reached. No more careless accidents.

I have a blue somewhere, says Freud. In my ball box. You are welcome to use it.

Rosamunda finds Freud's blue in his ball box, while Gaius makes fresh mugs of tea.

Now we can think about leaving, says Gaius.

Katherine left me her car, says Rosamunda. Would you like a lift, Gaius? It would save us some time.

Excellent, says Gaius. We'll go home and pack.

For Tasmania? asks Freud.

Yes, says Gaius. Tasmania.

Funny, says Freud.

What's funny? asks Gaius.

That's where Surfing-With-Whales is going with Unni, says Freud. Perhaps you'll meet .....

WHAT? says Gaius. Surfing-With-Whales, and Unni? Jumping Jupiter! How do you know this?

Katherine and I met Lauren Swales, says Freud. We slept in her B and B. And we met Surfing-With-Whales. He'd been fishing.

You didn't happen to ask him about Arthur? says Gaius.

No, says Freud. But his mother said he'd been surfing with Sweezus and Arthur......

( This is the way we find out things in the real world, by tedious roundabout means.).

Carumba! says Gaius. You met Sweezus and Arthur!

Terence looks up.

( Carumba sounds Spanish. Or something like it. But that's not the reason.)

Rosamunda! says Gaius. We've not a moment to lose. We must find Surfing-With-Whales before he leaves for Tasmania.

Totally, agrees Rosamunda.

They load Gaius's bike into the boot of Katherine's car. First they take the front wheel off.

During which Terence sneaks out of the van and hides in the back seat.

He HAS to see Sweezus again.

Freud and Baby Pierre are the only ones left now, at Kuitpo, to run Pee Pee Pee at Po.

The core team, Green Flash and the Professor, just like before. Good luck, fellows.

.........

Sweezus and Arthur are at Middleton, observing the swell.

One and a half feet, pathetic.

They sit down on a sandhill.

Know what? I might head back to work, says Sweezus.

You're joking, says Arthur. Head back  to work?

Nup, says Sweezus. Not joking. I could do with the money. Might call the office.

He takes his phone out. Calls the office.

Arthur thinks to himself: What about my new surfboard?

Arthur listens.

Sweezus says: Yep, yep, no kidding! THE Marks!